As a reminder that not everything in comics is doom and gloom—and that we as a country can still laugh, smile and drool, DC has released a list of its March Movie Variant covers, and they include this Justice League cover by Emanuela Lupacchino inspired by Magic Mike, the greatest film of the 21st century.

On that note, it is definitely time to call it a weekend. And the complete list, courtesy of Newsarama — more smiles to come we hope.

Heidi MacDonald is the founder and editor in chief of The Beat. In the past, she worked for Disney, DC Comics, Fox and Publishers Weekly. She can be heard regularly on the More To Come Podcast. She likes coffee, cats and noble struggle.

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So people scream and yell about sexism in comics when a male draws Spider-Woman sexy, yet this cover of men as pieces of meat/strippers is just good fun? Where is the outrage? Why isn’t the internet screaming for the head of Emanuela Lupacchino or DC?

Does anyone know where the Wizard of Oz poster came from? It’s not iconic, and I can’t find anything except an advert.

Some of the artists aren’t well chosen. If you’re going to use a photographic or realistic poster, then the cover artist should have a clean, realistic style.
Batman & Robin, Green Lantern fail. Too sketchy.

Did any of the movie poster designers/artists get a design fee?
Credit?
An offer to recreate their iconic poster?

Too bad they couldn’t schedule this for February, during the Oscars…

Hmmm… two of the covers are based on comic book movies, neither of which are DC properties.

All but “Bill & Ted” are owned by WB.

Other/Better iconic posters:
A Christmas Story
Attack of the 50 Foot Woman
Ace Ventura
A Clockwork Orange
Blazing Saddles
Singing in the Rain

@Tim
Well, for one thing, the guys aren’t massively contorted in order to expose and enhance their sexual characteristics, thus helping reducing them (and their gender) to that dimension of their being. Secondly, even if that were the case, such portrayals aren’t all that frequent and exist in a continuum of other accepted and expected ways to portray the male form. Which isn’t the case for the female one, which is what makes this cover all in good fun and the Spider-Woman (and countless others) one problematic.

@ Wonder Woman #40 inspired by 300, with cover art by Bill Sienkiewicz
I’m sure it’ll look fine, but I’m disappointed that DC, even with a fun promotion like this, continues to head Wonder Woman in the direction of a blood-splattered, low-rent Xena. Kick ass women in battle are great, but it would be nice to see a lighter, fresher take every once in a while (like the recent Gilbert Hernandez story). Why not Wonder Woman in ‘Maleficent’, with Big Barda in ‘Thelma and Louise’ or even ‘The Princess Diaries’?

@Charile Ryan
Is Big Barda in the Wonder Woman comic? (I’ve only read the first issue of the reboot.)

As for the movie posters you suggest, one is MGM, and the other two are Disney, owners of Marvel.
Since DC seems to have concentrated on WB properties (aside from Bill and Ted), those are unlikely to have been used.

Thelma & Louise would work, if the landscape is replaced with an island.

Love it! But Heidi? The greatest film of the 21st century? I too loved the strip scenes, but the major arch of the film sees one drugged out stripper induct someone new to take their place so he can take off with the new guys sister, to start life anew! What? There was no consequence to turning the girl’s brother into a drugged out stripper… I found it very concerning, and then they danced some more.

Insecure and clueless straight male trolls have plenty to worry about, but it’s mostly their own internal problems. The emotionally sound ones have little to fear.

And yes, that JL cover – nice as it is – could have been substantially gayer if Joe Phillips had done it. (He’s pretty busy these days, but it would’ve been worth asking him. Or Stephen Sadowski, or Phil Jimenez. For starters.) I’ve never drawn for DC, but I daresay I might even have improved upon the gaiety quotient a bit myself. :)

Before everyone jumps on @Tim, let me say I completely empathize with his point of view. The same way I empathize when my younger child complains that he can’t stay up as late as the older one. That’s a perfectly rational perspective, and one I myself would feel compelled to point out. I get it.

But I’ll say to Tim, what I say to my kids: “Fair” doesn’t always mean “the Same.” It’s totally fair that the older kid stays up later. “He doesn’t need as much sleep as you, and when you’re older you’ll stay up just as late.” THE CIRCUMSTANCES ARE DIFFERENT. If a majority of men felt that they were perceived as only having value as sex objects, then there would be outrage at the Magic Mike homage. If the cover was evidence that time and again a trend was being perpetuated, then there’d be outrage.

We scream at the Spider-Woman cover for the same reason I yell at my kids when they knock their milk off the table for the hundredth time — SHOW ME YOU CAN HANDLE THE RESPONSIBILITY OF SITTING AT THE TABLE, AND I’LL GIVE YOU BACK YOUR RIGHT TO SIT THERE. But when an adult knocks their milk? I go grab a towel and help them clean it off. That’s fair.

I want my beloved comics industry to show me they’re growing up right, and they understand the importance of showing respect for their readers. This cover isn’t evidence of a larger problem (at least regarding over-sexualizing males) . It’s a one-off.

@ Torsten
As far as I know, Barda hasn’t shown up in the new 52 WW book. It just seemed to me like an Amazonian Princess and a New God would have a little something in common and hang out together. And I could see them raising a little hell if they weren’t treated right.

The Time Warner connection went right over my head. When I first glanced at the list and saw movies like Gone With The Wind, The Wizard of Oz or 2001, I never thought TW. Those will always be MGM movies to me. I forgot MGM’s library was bought up long ago (first by Turner, then by TW.)

Cliff Chiang did the same Batgirl/Purple Rain mashup on his blog a few years ago. Not that he has ownership of a mashup idea, but it was kind of surprising to see DC do that one and not go with this illustration:

@Joe S Walker, I honestly didn’t hear any sneering while I typed that reply. Intended as entirely genuine. In hindsight, I see how someone might interpret my comparison with my children as trying to belittle their viewpoint. Sorry. That’s merely a side effect of the only example I can think of being the thing that’s most prevalent in my life: my kids. Just the first thing I thought of.

Like I said — I’ve often shouted the same “HEY – THAT’S NOT EQUAL!” point myself. Because it’s NOT equal. I agree with Tim. But circumstances make it fair.

But if your viewpoint shows that you lack perspective and understanding, due to your limited experience with the world, expect analogies to other people like that. Such as children. Sorry, precious little butterfly, but my respect for your viewpoint needs to be earned; you don’t get it just for having one.